McLean County, Illinois - Chapter 25: World War, 1924

UNITED STATES ENTERS WAR - SOME OF THE THINGS McLEAN COUNTY DID - THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES - DRAFT BOARDS - RED CROSS - RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS - LOAN CAMPAIGNS - FOOD CONSERVATION - WOMEN IN SERVICE - COUNCIL OF DEFENSE - FOOD ADMINISTRATION - FUEL ADMINISTRATION - GENERAL HARBARD - FOUR-MINUTE MEN.

When the cataclysm of war which had flooded Europe from the time of its outbreak in 1914 had finally overrun its bounds and swept across the Atlantic to the shores of America, in 1917, some of its waves broke into the farthest corners of our country.

The awakening to the awful fact of war was somewhat slow; the people rubbed their eyes and for a time thought that it must be some horrible dream - that it could not be true. But when once aroused to the truth that they, too, along with the peoples of all America and the sorely oppressed population of Europe, were to taste the terror and suffering, if not the actual devastation of war, they arose in spirit to the height of energy and sacrifice that must for many years, and even many generations, remain a page of their history which is glorious and unforgettable.

Donated thousands of dollars for the work of the Salvation Army, the Jewish Welfare campaign, the Armenian Relief campaign and other humanitarian, projects connected with the war.

Contributed to the use and comfort of the men in the service more than 441,114 articles valued at $123,000 through the work of the women of the Red Cross in McLean County.

Organized the women and girls of the county into bands of tireless, unselfish working people whose time and strength was given without stint to the business of furnishing war-needed materials.

Clyde Lorranie Allison, of Lexington, died of influenza at Camp Mills on Oct. 24, 1918, the day after his division, the 31st, sailed for France.

Harry and George Abrama, formerly of Hudson, both lost their lives. George died of influenza at Camp Lewis, Wash., shortly after he entered. Harry was killed in battle Aug. 2, 1918. Both enlisted from Montana.

Earl Grant, of Bellflower, died of influenza at Jefferson Barracks on Oct. 18. His brother, Ervin Grant, died while with the army of occupation in Germany, in January, 1919.

William and Melvin Savage, formerly of Dawns, lost their lives, William being drowned when he fell from a ship at Norfolk, and Melvin dying when he came home to attend his brother's funeral.

The war had been in theoretical progress only for a few months, when the Congress of the United States saw that some kind of a general military service law would become a necessity ; to summon the man power of the country to the call of duty. Accordingly the so-called draft law was passed by the Congress in May, 1917, and the date of June 5, 1917, was set for the time when all the men of the nation between the ages of 21 and 31 should register in their respective homes as subject to military call. On the date mentioned, there were 5,800 young men registered in the various prcincts of McLean County. McLean County was divided into two districts, one including the city of Bloomington together with Allin and Dale Townships ; the other district to include all of the county court ; chairman of city board No. 2, Judge Sain Welty, including most of the county precincts was known as No. 1 and the city district No. 2. The personnel of the two boards appointed for these respective districts was as follows:

Exemption Board No. 1 - Chairman, C. R. Ewins, of Danvers ; clerk, Dr. B. F. Elf rink, of Chenoa ; Isaac Murphy, of Leroy ; chief clerk, Reube B. Prothero; assistant clerk, Mrs. Edward A. Mott; soldier member, John Farley ; stenographer, Miss Dorothy Mason.

Local Advisory Board - Chairman of board No. 1, Judge J. C. Riley, of the country court ; chairman of city board No. 2, Judge Sain Welty, of the circuit court.

McLean County Red Cross - At a meeting of the Civic League of Bloomington early in June, 1915, Mrs. N. D. McKinney, president of the Woman's Club, presented the subject of organizing a Red Cross Chapter in Bloomington. The suggestion met with cordial approval, and action was taken authorizing the chairman, E. M. Evans, to appoint a committee to take preliminary steps toward that end. That evening Dr. E. Mammen, Mrs. G. S. McCurdy, Mrs. E. R. Morgan, Mrs. N. D. McKinney, and E. M.

Evans paid their membership fee, the necessary one-half of which was sent to the Red Cross director, in Chicago, with application for permission to organize a chapter. After a number of memberships had been enrolled which made the organization of a chapter appear feasible, the committee appointed by the Civic League called a meeting to be held at the public library on July 27. At this meeting a board of twelve directors was elected, Dr. Mammen appointed temporary chairman and Mrs. McKinney, temporary secretary.

The officers were not elected until the meeting of Dec. 5, 1915, when the following were chosen: Chairman, Campbell Holton; first vice-chairman, C. F. Agle; second vice-chairman, B. F. Harber; secretary, Alice 0. Smith ; treasurer, Frank D. Marquis. Miss Smith served as secretary until May, 1916, when she resigned and was succeeded by Mrs. McKinney.

During May and June, 1916, a campaign for members was conducted under the leadership of Dr. C. M. Noble. In July, 1916, a charter membership of 174 was sent to Washington and a charter granted.

The chairman and treasurer of the chapter, Mrs. N. D. McKinney, served since 1915; the secretary since May, 1916; the two vice-chairmen since October, 1917.

Campbell Holton, chairman, president of Campbell Holton & Co., wholesale grocers. He has been prominent in Y. M. C. A., the Bloomington Association of Commerce, Rotary Club and other community activities.

E. M. Evans, vice-chairman, president of the Association of Commerce in 1919 and 1920; served two years as president of the. Civic League and connected with other community organizations.

The personnel of the county branches of the Red Cross were composed of many of the leading men and women of their several communities. Shipments by McLean County Chapter to Bush Terminal and Central Division from May 21, 1917, to June, 1919:

The French, Belgian-Allied Relief Association carried on strenuous work in relief ways from the fall of 1917, to March 28, 1919, when it filed its final report. The officers of this association were as follows: President, Mrs. G. B. Read ; first vice-president, Mrs. H. S. Eckhart ; second vice-president, Mrs. A. W. Anderson; secretary, Mrs. F. C. Cole; treasurer, Mrs. W. L. Moore; directors, Mrs. Kate Brown, Mrs. R. C. Baldwin, Mrs. Charles Brokaw, Mrs. David Davis, Mrs. Alonzo Dolan, Mrs. C. B. Detrick, Mrs. Ralph D. Fox, Mrs. J. T. Johnson, Mrs. Anna B. Wade, Mrs. K. D. Welch, Mrs. Louise Robinson.

Liberty Loan Campaigns. - The people of McLean County loaned to the federal government during the war a total of about $11,000,000 of their money to help bring ultimate victory. This great sum was the payment on liberty bonds bought by the people of the county during five different drives which the government put on at different times, averaging in a rough way about six months apart during the period of American participation in the war. This huge total was nearly thirty times the cost of the court house of the county which was built just after the great fire.

By subscribing its portion to the Victory Loan in 1919, McLean County did two things worthy of its name and its august history. It oversubscribed the last of the great war drives, the campaign that brought the boys home. And it also raised a sufficient sum to make the total pledges of five loans greater than the combined quotas of those loans. Thus McLean County was more than 100 per cent in its financial aid to the war. It defies reproach. It has maintained his historical prestige of sound sense, integrity and patriotism. Here are the figures that show the financial war history of McLean County:

Food Conservation. - To any one who read the newspapers during the first few months of 1917, it was apparent that when the United States declared war on Germany, there would be some sort of organized campaign for food conservation in this country. The question of food had become critical.

The prompt action of Bloomington and McLean County women in organizing to meet this need will always be one of the greatest matters of pride to this county. During the latter part of April, just after our declaration of war, Mrs. Spencer Ewing went before the officers of the McLean County Chapter Red Cross, and offered her services for any work in food conservation that might be taken up. The offer was at once accepted, and thereafter during the whole period of the war and reconstruction months that followed, Mrs. Ewing was county leader in food conservation.

Throughout the emergency, the food conservation work of McLean County was done equally through the Red Cross committee and the Woman's Committee, C. N. D., and reports were made to both organizations.

It was during the fall of 1917 that agitation for employment of a home adviser was first begun here, Mrs. Ewing, Mrs. Frank W. Benjamin, and other leaders in household science work, initiating the movement.

A permanent organization called the Home Improvement Association was formed in April. It had a membership of 1,500 women from all over the county, each paying $1 per year toward its support. The government likewise paid $1,500 per year. There was a director in each township, who stood for food conservation in his community. In June th( home adviser began work. She was Miss Clara R. Brian, formerly of San Jose.

Women in the Service. - Of the women of McLean County who were in the army service, either as attaches, of the Red Cross or nurses otherwise, the following are well worthy of especial credit :

McLean County Council of Defense. - One of the most important chapters in the history of the World War, is the part taken by the McLean County Council of Defense. It is but common justice to pay tribute to the patriotic body which performed its mission so unobtrusively and without ostentation and yet which was one of the most efficient and essential organizations of the nation. In the vast work of unification, in the carrying from Washington to the people, the messages and measures of the national government and in the transmission back to Washington of the moods and aspirations of a people at war, the council of defense system with its more than 180,000 units set down in every county of the country, played a definite, stirring, and highly fruitful part. Launched May 2, 1917, the Council of National Defense forged into action immediately. The McLean County organization was as follows:

County Food Administration - Only a few weeks after America's en-, try into the war, the Bloomington Association of Commerce was asked by Harry A. Wheeler, Federal Food Administrator for Illinois, to appoint an Administrator who should select a committee of four to co-operate with him in representing our Government in handling all questions that might arise on this subject.

R. C. Baldwin, president of the Association of Commerce, went to Howard Humphreys along in September of 1917, stating that as he was looked upon as the dean of the grocery business in this section, he felt that Mr. Humphreys should accept this appointment, which he immediately did, wiring Mr. Wheeler that he would give it the best attention possible and be very careful in the selection of the Conference Committee. Accordingly he made the following appointments of men who, though very busy in their affairs, accepted them and pledged their support and co-operation :

A few weeks later, Mr. Humphreys was asked to become a member of the State District Board. J. J. Thomassen was appointed county food administrator for McLean County. A county food administration was completed in February, 1918. After a few weeks of very active service, Mr. Thomassen was obliged to resign the position, and Mr. Hal M. Stone accepted the appointment of County Food Administrator. Charles O'Malley gave him very valuable assistance in handling one of the most im- portant features at that time, the question of sugar distribution, and regulations of the quantity to be sold. In this respect, Mr. O'Malley was acing as County Food Administrator and was sworn in as such.

These arrangements continued until December, 1918, when practically all restrictions were withdrawn and the activities of the Food Administration ceased.

Fuel Administration - Restrictions on the use of fuel became more drastic from time to time during the late fall and early winter of 1917-18. The climax was reached when the order was issued for the closing of all manufacturing plants except those making food supplies for a period of five days, from Jan. 18 to 22, inclusive, of 1918. At the same time the order was issued that all retail stores except food stores should be closed one day each week for a period of five weeks. Monday was chosen as closing day.

With the work of the strenuous winter of 1917-18 past, Mayor Jones resigned from the chairmanship of the local fuel committee, and Spencer Ewing, who had served as secretary, was named in his place. His work in charge of the local situation continued through the spring of 1918, and plans were outlined for a campaign among the people for the next season which would prevent the fuel shortage of the previous winter. On May 1, 1918, Mr. Ewing was called to Chicago as director of state requirements in the Illinois office of the U. S. fuel administration. He served in that capacity until August 1 of that year, being in charge of fuel distribution for the State of Illinois outside of Chicago.

Bertram A. Franklin was named as head of the McLean County fuel administration when Mr. Ewing was called to Chicago. He continued the work until and after the close of the war, for the signing of the armistice did not end the existence of the fuel administration. Mr. Franklin finally received his instructions in January, 1919, to close his office on Feb. 1, which was accordingly done, and the fuel administration passed out of existence.

Maj. Gen. James G. Harbord - It was an honor to McLean County in connection with the World War that one of the men highest in the councils of the military expedition in Europe was a man who had his birth and youth in this county, and who retained his friendship and acquaintances here, returning for a visit in person after he returned victorious from the world struggle. He was Gen. James G. Harbord, who went to Europe in 1917 as chief of staff to Gen. John J. Pershing, the commander in chief of the A. E. F. and who later became the chief of the American Service of Supply, which kept the lines of fighting men fed with munitions and rations in the great campaigns which they carried on in the summer and fall of 1918.

General Harbord was born in Blooming Grove Township in 1866. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. George Harbord, well known McLean County residents a half century ago. The family later moved to Saybrook, thence to Missouri and then to Kansas, where General Harbord graduated from the Kansas State Agricultural College in 1886.

The Four-Minute Men - The committee of public information at Washington on Oct. 15, 1918, appointed C. B. Hughes, a well-known attorney, as chairman of the Four-Minute Men of McLean County.

Medals for making more than 10 speeches during Liberty Loan Campaigns were given to James C. Riley, Edmund O'Connell and C. B. Hughes. C. B. Hughes spoke 142 different times in county during war on war subjects.